Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1887-05-27
THE HAYMARKET CONTROVERSY
Board of Arbitration Report.

and Samuel W. Curriden, the board of ar
bitrators that considered certain complaints
of farmers who sell hay in the Washington
Market, have completed their report and
communicated the results Of their investiga-
ton to the District Commissioners in the
following communication: an the matter
of the complaints of farmers relative to the
sale of hay at the wholesale market grounds,
now under the control Of the Washington
Market Co., referred to the undersigned for
Investigation and report by the Montgomery
County (Md) Agricultural Society and the
| Washington Market Co., as board of ar
bitration, the following is submitted as
result of their investigations:
| A brief resume of the statements Of each
person appearing before the board is sub
mitted herewith and made part of this re-
| port. Agreeably to advertisements inserted
in the papers Of Rockville and Washington
| City, the board met at Rockville, Md, ON
| Friday, April 30, and at Center Market in
Washington on the following Tuesday, aad
heard all those who appeared before them.
While no fraud or criminal act has been
proved against any person doing business
in or about the grounds, or against the
weighmaster, Mr.. H. G. McCauley, suffi-
Gent has been shown to satisfy the board
that there is an urgent necessity for many
changes and improvements in the methods
and facilities for the sale oil hay and other pro-
ducts by farmers on the wholesale grounds
THE PUBLIC SCALES.
AS to the public scales, now under con-
troll of Mr.. II. G. McCauley, we recommend
that as soon as possible some method be
adopted whereby the weighmaster is placed
under some responsible authority, and sub
ject to prompt removal for wrong-doing
BY this method the receipts could be covered
into the treasury of the District with an
itemiZed account of gross receipts. No &C.
curate data is now obtainable by any per-
son or authority as to the amount received
by the weighmaster per year from those
scales; but assuming that the statement of
Mr.. Cauley that of last years hay over
5000 loads had been weighed by him, 1t
can be safe to estimate that if properly man
aged the District would receive much more
than under the present arrangement.
1t is clear that the weighmaster has for a
long time unduly favored Mr.. Il. b. Lafferty,
a gentleman to whom has been issued by the
District authorities license to trade as
commission merchant, and who for years
has made speciality OF trading in the hay
brought to the wholesale grounds by farm
ers. The weghmaster has furnished Mr..
Lafferty with various facilities and favors
which this board regard as uncalled for and
improper. Among other things the board
find on the back OF each of his weight Ger.
tticates large advertisement sf Mr.. Lief
ferty as dealer in hay, stating that his
office is the scales Office. Only one other
person, and that a horse dealer on Louis
lana avenue, has been similarly favored by
Mr.. McCauley.
That Mr. Lafferty has been permitted by
the weighmaster to use the scales office as
his principal place Of business may be solely
due to lack of force upon the part OF the
weighmaster, and his desire to retain the
friendship OF Mr.. Lafferty. But farmers like
other people, judge from appearances, and
these have at times been such as to excite pre-
judice and provoke criticism. The board be-
lieve unusual favors by the weighmaster To
any person To be improper, and they recon-
mend that Mr.. McCauley be admonished by
the proper authorities against similar con-
duct in the future, and also that he be re-
quired to keep his scales more evenly bal
anced by the use OF uniform shot instead of
irregular pieces Of lead, &c, as at present.
The accidental less OF any of the pieces new
used might easily effect, loss of several
hundred pounds in IA load The scales should
also DC kept in better condition. There were
submitted number ol alleged discrepan.
ces between the weights by Mr.. McCauley
and OF the same load given upon other pub
lie scales. As most ri these submitted hap
pened some years since it was found imprac-
ticable to fully investigate this branch OF
the inquiry.
MIR. LAFFERTYs MONOPOLY.
In reference " Mr.. f. b. Lafferty, the
board found that he has u practical mo.
nopoly of the sale of hay at the wholesale
grounds, ani that, in his efforts To build up
and retain this monopoly he has done much
Ia th.s tItln In, him
on the part Of a large number Of farmers
who bring their hay tn the market This
opposition is not entirely due, as Mr.. Lai.
feriy endeayurs to explain, To the compare
lively low price at which hay has sold the
last year, but dates back many years. In
many instances this opposition is due To
what farmers believe To have been unfair
interruption by Mr.. Lalierty, whereby trans.
actions were not completed and they were
compelled 10 take lower prices for their
loads For years it is complained that he
has inspected and rated the quality OF hay,
fixed the price, and been the agent of III e
seller, and at the same time acted Us the
agent Of the purchasers. With farmers, as
u rule, he rarely acted as if he were an agent,
but instead has acted as If he were the prin
cipal, but has never met the obligations of
principal. His dealings with farmers should
be simply as the agent Of buyers, and farm
ers should hold him responsible for pay
inent for their hay, and 50 save themselves
the loss resulting from the refusal Of buyers
10 confirm and comp.e Mr.. Lafferty's trans
actlons BY this metIod farmers would be
saved the ioss Of time in procuring their pay,
and the greater loss oi time that has resulted
to many When buyers have, without advis
ing MIR. Laifcrty, procured hay from other
sources, aud bccsme unable 10 receive il,
long distances with heavy loads. Unless this
present mode oi doing business is changed
and Mr.. Lafferty is compelled To deal in hay
as regular commission dealers do IN other
products, CAUSES vi complaint must continue
~ arise. When Mr.. Latferty or any other
dealer IN hay gives ticket " a seller deslg
mating place where the hay is ~ be de-
livered, aud the price 10 be paid, such com.
mission dealer acting az agent should be
held Responsible for the payment eli the
amount II the principal does not promptly
| ratliy the contract and pay for the hay.
There was no testimony presented which
showed any disposition on the part VI the
Washington Market Company To allow any
special lavors To any one Mr.. N. G. Ord
way, who appeared before this board gave
a history vi that company's connection with
the Wholesale or hay market grounds, and
submitted To the board the agreement under
which the company took charge OF the
grounds, and erected buildings, and has up
| " this time made and enforced regulations
| for he grounds.
Mr.. Lafferty has been Of advantage TO
farmers and buyers on many occasions, as
has been shown by the evidence, and it Is
not the desire Of TINS board to interfere with
his business Or prevent his presence at the
hay market, OF that VI any other commits
sion merchant regularly licensed. But a
near,y absolute control by any one man Of
any onc product the board believe To be in
furious 10 farmers, and therefore competition
should be encouraged.
SYSTEM OF INSPECTION RECOMMENDED.
In order, however, that those bringing hay
to sell may have no further cause for Gem
plant, We recommend that the Washington
Market Company be requested to omplsy
a competent man 10 be designated inspector
at the wholesale grounds, who shall be re-
sponsble To that company, and whose duty
II shall be, when 50 requested by sellers, 10
| INSECT and grade hay and straw brought to